​Tarrytown, New York — September 23: Jalen Brunson, wearing number 11 for the New York Knicks, spoke to reporters at the Knicks Training Facility on September 23, 2025. The event took place in Tarrytown, New York. A note to readers: by downloading and/or using this photograph, you acknowledge and agree to the Getty Images License Agreement. The image was captured by Dustin Satloff for Getty Images.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — February 22: Jalen Brunson, again wearing number 11 for the Knicks, reacted during the third quarter of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on February 22, 2024. This photo credit goes to Tim Nwachukwu for Getty Images.
Just over three weeks after lifting the Larry O’Brien Trophy, Brunson resurfaced in public this past weekend, but this time the focal point was his left arm. The Knicks star was seen with his left hand and wrist encased in a sling. Photos shared by New York Basketball on social media showed Brunson looking relaxed and casually dressed, sunglasses on, strolling with a friend. It was a quiet moment for a player who spent his summer far from quiet.
Brunson was photographed with his arm in a sling following wrist surgery, a development first reported by SNY and later confirmed by other outlets. ESPN cited sources saying he expects to resume basketball activities later in the summer. The injury had been present the entire time; Brunson had played through wrist discomfort throughout New York’s title run, maintaining his usual level of performance and availability. Recovery timelines varied among outlets, with shorter estimates placing the return around six to eight weeks, while longer projections suggested about two months.
With the wrist getting proper attention now and a full offseason ahead, the Knicks hope to have Brunson ready for the start of the next championship defense. On the court, Brunson did not show signs of limitation during the postseason as he helped propel New York to its first title since 1973. In the finals against the San Antonio Spurs, he delivered a signature performance, scoring 45 points in the closeout game—a 94-90 victory that marked a Knicks Finals record. That night, he accounted for 48 percent of New York’s scoring, including 15 points in the fourth quarter and a performance that epitomized his impact in the series.
Throughout the postseason, Brunson averaged 28.4 points per game, becoming just the 13th player since 1984 to average at least 28 points for a champion. He earned both the Eastern Conference finals MVP and the Finals MVP, cementing his role as the emotional and statistical centerpiece of the championship run, a run that has since become a defining chapter in Knicks history.